Man pleads guilty to embezzlement

An Onsted man admitted abusing his authority to steal at least $50,000 while working as an office manager for a Dominican teacher training program in Adrian over a three-year period.

Paul Anthony D’Arcy, 48, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Lenawee County Circuit Court to a reduced charge of embezzlement $20,000 to $50,000. He faces up to a 10-year prison term when he is sentenced Jan. 16 by Judge Margaret M.S. Noe.

The plea agreement included a $50,000 cap on what D’Arcy can be ordered to repay.

He was accused of stealing $103,000 between January 2009 and November 2011 from the Adrian Dominican Montessori Teacher Education Institute. He had been scheduled for trial in two weeks on a charge of embezzlement $100,000 or more, which carries a maximum 20-year prison term.

D’Arcy told Noe he misused his authority to misappropriate funds while managing the institute office.

“I was signatory on the account so I could write checks to myself,” D’Arcy said.

D’Arcy was arraigned in the case in February after an Adrian police investigation of the alleged embezzlement. The case was originally scheduled for trial in July. That date was canceled and the trial later rescheduled for Nov. 27. He remains free on bond while awaiting sentencing.